Chapter 10: The Wayward Son (Aedan)
The gates of Castle Cousland opened. A dark-haired man in a worn armor entered the castle. He glanced at the familiar interiors of the main hall and breathed a sigh of relief. According to Aedan, little has changed here in five years. The servants called his whole family. The first to run into the hall was a large beige mabari, Aedan bent down and hugged him.
- Roger, my little boy! - he said. - Well, you have grown up a lot. How did you protect Elissa while I was away?
Mabari barked happily and wagged his tail.
- Elissa doesn't need to be protected, she can handle herself, - said the girl in a new silverite chainmail who came up to them.
- Sister!
- Brother!
Aedan hugged his twin sister, whom he missed the most.
- How are you here? Not married yet?
- Not yet, but there is someone in mind.
Following Elissa, their older brother Fergus entered the hall with his family: his Antivan wife Oriana and their young son Oren.
- Hello, Aedan, - said Fergus.
Aedan felt a chill in his older brother's voice. And there were reasons for that. Five years ago, it was Fergus who tried to dissuade Aedan from his venture, as he was afraid that Highever would be taken away from the Couslands because of the scandal.
- Are you still mad at me, brother? You have worked so hard to find the love of your life. I couldn't do otherwise. I was hoping you would understand me.
Oriana looked accusingly at her husband. She was one of the few who supported Aedan five years ago.
- And you, I suppose, are Oren? - Aedan turned to the boy. - You probably don't remember me, but I am your uncle, Aedan.
- Hello, Uncle Aedan! – Oren said happily.
Aedan's parents, Teyrn Bryce and Teyrna Eleanor, were next to meet their son, both of them had grown a lot of gray hair over the years.
- You're back, my pup! - Bryce said.
Aedan hugged both of his parents.
- Where did you spend your exile, my son? - Eleanor asked.
- Many places, I visited Orlais, Antiva, Anderfels, Free Marches. Tried not to spend too much time in one place. I'm glad I'm at home.
- Pup, we will discuss your journeys later, - said Bryce. - The servants have cleaned your room. Go there, relax, and clean yourself up.
Aedan followed his father's advice and spent several hours in the bath and in bed. Suddenly, someone knocked on his room. Aedan got dressed and opened the door. Before him stood a young elven girl in a simple dress.
- Iona? What are you doing here?
- Lady Landra and Dairren have arrived here. I accompany them. To be honest, I didn't think I'd see you here again.
- You're kind of sad. Is there something wrong?
Iona sighed heavily.
- I have... I have a child from you!
- What? Are you sure about this?
- You were the only man I spent a night with five years ago!
Aedan remembered that night, his last night before his exile. He was given a verdict, and he decided to get drunk at a feast dedicated to the royal wedding and to drown the grief for his lost love in ale. He didn't remember how later he found solace in bed with a beautiful elf, who had been looking for his attention all evening.
- Her name is Amethyne, she lives with her grandmother in the Denerim alienage. I get good money by working for Lady Landra, but sometimes I don't have enough for my daughter.
- I... I will officially accept Amethyne as my daughter. I will have a difficult conversation with my father, but I'll achieve my goal. But I'm sorry, I can't marry you.
- Is it because I'm an elf?
- It's because you're not the one I love.
- Are you still grieving over her?
- Yes. We could have been together, but now she's married to someone else. And I see the face of this man on every sovereign.
- I don't envy you. But thank you for being ready to recognize Amethyne, this is very important to me.
Iona stepped out into the yard. Aedan followed her to the feast. The presence of a sudden illegitimate child has greatly complicated his life.
Author note: All three young Couslands are older in this story than in the game. Fergus is 32, while both twins are 27.